Action-locking means for self-loading firearms



Dec. 13, 1949 H. H. sEFRlED, l1

ACTION-LOCKING MEANS FOR SELF-LOADING FIREARMS iii...Si.......

2,Sheetsr'-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1947 Dec. 13, 1949 H. H. sEFRlED, l|2,491,218

ACTION-LOCKING MEANS FOR SELF-LOADING FIREAHMS Filed Jan. 17, 1947 2sheets/Sheet 2 M www Patented Dec. 13, 1949 ACTION-LOCKING MEANS FORSELF- LOADING FIREARMS Harry H. Sefried, II, New Haven, Conn., assgnorto Olin Industries, Inc., vNew Haven, Conn., a corporation of DelawareApplication January 17, 1947, Serial No. 722,675

(Cl. l2- 21) 9 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to firearms and more especiallyto that class of repeating rearms the breechblock and cartridge-loadingmechanism of which are actuated automatically by gas-operated meanssupported beneath the barrel, the invention relating particularly toimproved means for automatically locking the action open after the lastcartridge in the magazine has been red.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved action-lockingmeans for rearms which is simple, convenient and reliable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a superioraction-locking means which is capable of being readily applied toautomatic self-loading firearms of the class referred to and whichfunctions automatically to lock the action open after the last cartridgehas been fired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide superioraction-locking means for automatic self-loading firearms wherein aunitary carrier-latch member cooperatively engages a relatively-fixedabutment to automatically lock the action open when the last cartridgehas been red, the carrier-latch member being operable manually also forunlocking the action.

A still further object is to provide an improved carrier-latch forpermitting one-hand loading.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear to thoseskilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includesall features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposesz" Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a rearm embodying' the present invention and which, for thepurposes of illustration, is a gas-operated self-loading rearm havingthe compound-movement type of breechblock;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken View of a side elevation in section of therearm shown in Fig. 1, the breechblock being locked in breech-closingposition, and the hammer released for firing a cartridge in the chamberof the barrel;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 2 but with the actionopen, the breechblock being slightly forward of its rearmost position inthe receiver and the hammer held thereby in its overcocked position. Inthis view, the magazine is empty and no cartridge is supported on thecarrier;

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 except that a cartridge is shown supportedon the cartridge-carrier, as a consequence of which the carrier-latchhas been displaced out of engagement with the hammer;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the firearm on line 5-5 of Fig. 2showing the position of the carrier-latch in the carrier;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cartridge-car` rier, including theimproved carrier-latch of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the carrier and carrier-V latch shown in Fig.6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the carrier-latch; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the hammer showing the latch-engagingtooth thereof.

For the purpose of illustrating one embodiment of the invention, anautomatic self-loading fire? arm of the class having the so-calledcompound movement breechblock is used, the firearm, as shown in Fig. 1,comprising a receiver I0 having a stock I I secured to its rear end, anda barrel `l2 and tubular magazine I3,V furnished with the usualspring-loaded follower (not shown), secured to the forward end of thereceiver, the tubular magazine I3 being suitably supported on theunderside of the barrel together with gas-operated mechanism indicatedgenerally at I4, which is connected by an action-slide I5 to thebreech-,1

ceiver and for raising and lowering the lockingf nose I9 on the rear endof the breechblock into and from locking engagement with a lockingnotch29 formed in the solid top wall 2| of the receiver. A more completedisclosure of the above-described mechanism may be found inthe JohnsonPatent No. 958,407, dated May 1'7, 1910.

An ejection-port 22 is provided in the right-hand side of the receiverfor electing spent cartridges therefrom, while the underside or bottomof the receiver comprises an openslot 23 closed at its rear end by atrigger-plate 24, the forward end zine I3.

The trigger-plate constitutes supporting-meansv for the ming-mechanismwhich comprises a ham- .mer 25 mounted on a transverse pivot 26 andformed with a cockingor Sear-shoulder 2'I adapted to be engaged by theforward end or nose 28) of a Sear 2S, the latter being operativelyassociated with the trigger 29 Which is pivotally mounted on the searpivot-pin 30 in the triggerplate. A small helical spring 3 I, suitablymounted in the trigger-plate 24, engages the rear end of the trigger`2.9 urgingthe forwr-irdr end thereof to pivot upwardly. Mounted in the.forward end of the trigger in cooperative engagement with the rear endof the sear 28, is a spring-loaded pilot'- 3I0 which urges the nose 280of the sear upwardly for engagement with theSear-shoulder'ZTvofthepivoted hammer 25. The latter is providedj as"usual, with a rearwardly-extending ,strutvBZwGon-v stituting a guide-rodfor a helieaflfl'iarnmer-spring 33 which is carried thereon and whichprovides the striking force of the The firing-mechanism may'also embodysuitable slide-action-bar locking-means and..a-.ham mer-engaging hoo-k,as described more fully in the ,lohnson Patent-No. 960,646, dated-June7,1910', for preventing premature openingor ringof the gun,.butYinasmuch as. these` elements Iare nonessential toa full and cleardisclosure. .of vthe present invention, a -detaileddescription thereof`is. unnecessary here.

The` hammer is. Aadapted to. beV swungV rear;- wardly vto its cooked orhammer-spring loaded position the .breech-bolt. I8 as the latter ismoved rearwardly by the nation-slide I5, the upper forward edge 3A-lof.the hammer being slidingly engaged by the underside 35 of the breech--blockduring the rearwardrexeursion thereof. It is a characteristic ofguns o fthi-sfelass that whenv thebreechblock is atv-,theuendof: itsrearward excursionth ehammer -is -rotatedrearwardly in. av.eounterclock-wise direction to a positionI such that .its,Sear-shoulder 21 is-,carried forwardly. out o fengagementwiththefnosell of -thge'sear I28;. as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and A, thedistancebetween the nose of the. Vsea/rk and the Sear-- shoulder of thehammerbeing known as the" fover.. travel Aof,'thefhainrrier. For'purposes of-A thek present description; thisposition ofthe hammershallbezhereinafter referredto as its dover-f cocked position and shallbe understood to Qccuronly when thebreechblockfis atoradjacent the l,endof itsV rearward' excursion.

In addition to its function of cooking theharm Iner of the firearm, theAreciprocating'breeohblock I8:is adapted to actuateV acartridge-carrier, indicated generally at 35. Referring to Figs. `6A and'7., the carrierl comprises a lever-member 31 pivotally supported in thereceiver on av transverse pin 3.8 and having a forwardly-extending reachor spoon llliior the reception of cartridges-Which. areadapted to'be fedsuccessfully thereon fromV they: rear Vend of; the tubular magazine i3in the well `known manner.- The vrear end' of'thefl'ever'- memberVA 31has an upwardly-and-rearwardly-` extending arm `llproyided atitseXtremityw-itll a.. Spring-loaded inwardly-projecting camz-followeror'plungery 4I', thelatter being adapted. to cooperatively engage asuitable'carn-surfaceindicated generally at lil. on the inside wall of`thel breechblock for actuating.-4 the cartridge-carrier during theforward excursion of the breechblock; Agmore. .detailed description of"these features of this; class :of rearm 4may 19e-found inthe JohnsonPatenttNo. 959,016', dated' May-24, 1910', but for purposes of thisdisclosure it will sufce to say that the cam-surface 42 oi" thel-breechblock coacts with the cam-follower 4| of the carrier in what isknown by mechanics as island moveu", as shown" in Fig. 6, the'v otherleg 54 of the ,springV ment, whereby as the breechblook moves rearwardlyfrom breech-closing position, the camfollower 4| is depressed byengagement with the adjacent side Wall of the breechblock out of thepath of travel of the latter so that it may move rearwardly freelyWithout actuating the carrier. However, when/the breechblock reaches theend of` its rearward excursion, the cam-follower 4I snaps intoengagement with the cam-surface 42 of the breechblock and moreparticularly a dgwnwardly-and-rearwardly-extending shoulder`Sfatljiereof," -so that on the forward movement of the 'vbreechblock,the arm 4i) of the carrier will be positively depressed and itsforwardly-extending .fl-spoon'. liluelevated, whereby a cartridgethereon wllfbeflifted-into position to be pushed into the breech- .orcartridgerchamber alii of the barrel by the forward' end oftliebreechblock, the spoon of the-carrier being maintained in its upperposition until the cartridge has been sufficiently enteredtinto thechamber to prov-ide for full controlgthereof. Afteri'the cam-follower 4lhas lbeen disengaged,.fromitheunderside of theforwardlymoving'-breechblocka1carrier-spring d5, in engagement with.rthecarrier-arm it, rotatesV the carrierfclockvvise sonas tolower itsspoon (i9 into itsnoriginalf cartridge-receiving. position.

Aspointedfoutabove andas shown in the draw.- ings, the ooaction of thedownwardly-and-rearwardly-extending cam-shoulder 43 of thebreechblojckandthecam-followerd I tof the p'ivoted carrier is such that-t-h-,eyspoon'SB- of: the latterr is cammedupwardly positively.V as thebreechblock begins its forward: excursion from breech-open position.C-Ionversely, ifv thecarrier-spoon 3Q is positivelyheld-from`swingingupwardly, the co- I The: presentv inventionv relates toimproved ibreechblockl-locking means carriedrby theY cartridgefcarrierandadapted 'to 'er-igagefa relativelyfixed abutment toprevent the upwardswinging movement. of: the.l ,carrier-'spoon when there is nofvcartridgethereon, ,and to thereby lock. the breechblock initsretracted orbreech-open posi- 'tgion leach timethe magazine of. the firearm isi'emptied.`

Referringto Figs. y6,17 and 8, the breechbloeklocking means of theinvention comprises ay carriers-latch indicated generally at d',pivotally supported by a transversepin' 'l :in areetangular. slot 48intersectingthe rear end of the carrierspoon` and forwardly the pivot 38thereof,` the latch 'being ,disposed in a vertical plane coinci-v dentwith. tl'ieverticalk plane of the hammer 25 and extendingsubstantiallyalong thexlo-ngitudinal axis of the carrier-spoon 39, as shown in Figs.5,..6.and17. Thezupperend of the latch is formed withv an integralupwardly-and-forwardly-proy jeotngflug which is slotted vertically to.provide twospaced parallel ngers 4S, the tips dofwhich areadapted=normally to be held forwardly resil-- iently inithe path-of acartridge being delivered' ontozthezcarrier-spoon 39 from the magazineI3 l ibyztheforce-ofa latch-spring 5 i The latter comprises acoil-spring supported on the latch-pivot pin-4T in the slot between thespaced fingers 9, the leg 52' of the spring extending downwardly into ,ayr ecess.53,in the forward face4 of the latch,

in breech-open bearing against the underside of the carrierspoon as, forinstance, after the last cartridge in the magazine has been fired, thefingers 49 of the latch are free to swing forwardly and are resilientlyheld in a forward position by the force of the latch-spring 5l, theforward position of the fingers 49 being hereinafter referred to as theoperating position of the latch If, on the other hand, a cartridge isdelivered from the magazine onto the spoon of the carrier, therearwardly-moving head of the cartridge is adapted to engage the tips 50of the latch-ngers 49 and rotate the latter rearwardly in acounterclockwies direction, the rearward position of the ngers beinkhereinafter referred to as the inop- 1 erative position of the latch.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6, the lower end of the pivoted latch 46extends downwardly below the underside of the carrier and is providedwith a rearwardly-extending tooth 55 which is adapted, in a preferredembodiment of the invention, to engage a tooth 56 formed on thehubportion of the hammer 25. To this end, the hammer-tooth 56 is locatedon the hub of the hammer forwardly of the Sear-shoulder 2l, so that whenthe latch-fingers 49 are in their forward latch-operating position andthe hammer 25 has been swung counterclockwise to its overcockedposition, the tooth 56 of the hammer will be moved above the latch-tooth55 and substantially in line with the path of movement thereof.Moreover, it will be apparent that when the hammer 25 is in itsover-cocked position, pivotal movement thereof in a clockwise directionis positively prevented by engagement of the forward edge 34 of thehammer with the underside 35 of the breech-bolt, which, as shown, is atthe end of its rearward excursion. The tooth 56 of the hammerconstitutes, in effect, therefore, a relatively-fixed abutment. lConsequently, breech-block begins to move forwardly from its rearmostposition in the receiver, the downwardly-and-rearwardly-slopingcam-shoulder 43 of the breechblock engages the cam-follower 4I of thecarrier and starts to depress the rearwardly-extending arm 4!) and henceto elevate the carrier-spoon 39 and latch 46. In so doing, however, thelatch-tooth 55 is brought up into locking engagement with thehammer-tooth 55 whereby further upward swinging movement of the carrieris prevented; and since the carrier is thus positively held from furthermovement upwardly, the cam-shoulder 43 of the breechblock jams againstthe immovable cam-follower 4l of the carrier-arm 40. whereby thebreechblock is effectively locked in breech-open position.

It may also be pointed out that the provision of the carrier-latch toothon the hammer serves not only to lock the action open each time themagazine is emptied, as hereinafter described, but also insuresdisengagement of the carrierlatch from the hammer-tooth whenever thehammer is in any position other than its overcocked position. That is tosay, when the action is closed and the hammer is in either its cocked orfiring position, the carrier is unlatched and free to swing upwardly sothat the magazine may be loaded with one hand and with ease.

The breechblock is adapted to be unlocked manually and to this end, thelower end of the latch is provided with a finger-piece 5l for pivotingthe latch-tooth 55 out of engagement with the tooth 56 of the hammer, soas to free the carrier and permit the latter to rotate upwardly aboutits pivot, thereby releasing the breechblock and permitting it to bemoved forwardly by the force of the compressed action-operating spring58, see Figi, to breech-closing position.

In the normal operation of the rearm, cartridges will be deliveredsuccessively from the magazine onto the spoon 39 of thecartridgecarrier, the head of each cartridge moving rearwardly intoengagement with the fingers 49 of the latch so as to hold the latch inits inoperative position and thus permit the carrier to be rotatedfreely about its pivot by coaction with the forwardly-moving breechblockand to elevate the cartridge on the carrier into the breech of thebarrel. After the last cartridge has been delivered from the magazineand fired, the breechblock will be moved rearwardly by the gasoperatedaction-slide mechanism I4 to eject the red cartridge. As the breechblockapproaches the end of its rearward excursion, the hammer 25 is pivotedcounterclockwise to its over-cocked position, thereby moving its tooth56 into position for engagement with the carrier-latch tooth 55, whichis now in its operative position, as the carrier starts to swingupwardly, as a consequence of which the carrier is positively held fromfurther movement and the cam-shoulder 43 of the breechblock jams againstthe immovable camfollower 4l, the breechblock being held thereby in itsretracted breech-open position.

Although the invention is incorporated in a firearm having agas-operated slide-action operating-mechanism, it will be understoodthat the invention may be used on firearms having mechanical and otherequivalent means for automatically operating the breechblock. Moreover,the improved breechblock-locking means is of simple but ruggedconstruction, of relatively-few parts and conveniently accessible forboth automatic and manual operation.

The invention may be carried out in other specic ways than those hereinset forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present enibodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A firearm, including in combination: a receiver; a barrel carried bysaid receiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver; means tomove said breechblock to and from breechclosing position; arelatively-fixed abutment in said receiver; cartridge-feed meansincluding a movable cartridge-carrier for delivering a cartridge intothe breech of said barrel, said carrier and breechblock havingmutually-engageable surfaces constructed and arranged to coa-ct so as topermit said breechblock to move forwardly freely with respect to saidcarrier into breechclosing position when said carrier is free to moveand to hold said breechblock immobile at the end of its rearwardexcursion in said receiver when said carrier is held from moving; andcartridge-actuated breechblock-locking means mounted on saidcartridge-carrier forwardly of said relatively-fixed abutment, vsaidlockingmeans being constructed and arranged to engage saidrelatively-xed abutment in the absence of a cartridge on said carrier tohold said carrier in breech-open position.

metals 2; A firearm, vincludingV in combination: a receiver; a barrelcarried by said receiver; a breechblock movablymounted inzsai'dreceiver; means to move saidbreechblock. to and: from breech-closingposition;` a relatively-fixed abutment in said receiver; cartridge-feedmeans including a movable cartridgecarrier for' elevating a cartridgeinto the breech of. said barrel, said carrier and breechblock havingmutually-engageable surfaces constructed and arranged to permit saidbreechblock to move forwardlyA freely with respect to said' carrier intobreech-closing position when said carrier is free to move and to holdsaid breechblock immobile" at the end of itsrearward excursion insaid'receiverwhen said carrier is held from moving; andcartridge-actuated breechblock-lockingmeans comprising a latch pivotallymounted on said cartridge-carrier forwardly of said' relatively-xedabutment and a resilient member arranged normally to engage and urgesaid latch in-to'nosition for engagement with said relatively-xedabutment in the absence of a cartridge on said carrier thereby to holdsaid carrier` from moving and lock said breechblook in breech-openposition 3. A firearm, including in combination: a receiver; abarrel-carried -by said receiver; a breechblock movably mounted: in saidreceiver; means to move saidY breechblock to and from breechclosingposition; a-relati-vely fixed abutment in said receiver; cartridge-feedmeans including a movable cartridge-carrier. for delivering a cartridgeinto the breech of said barrel, said carrier and-breechblock havingmutually-engageable surfaces constructed andA arranged to permit'saidbreechblock to move forwardly freely with respect to said carrier intobreech-closing position when said carrier is free to move and to holdsaid breechblock immobile at the endof its rearward excursion in saidreceiver when said carrier is held from moving; a cartridge-actuatedbreechblock-locking means comprising a latch pivotally mounted on saidcartridge-carrier forwardly ofsaid relatively-xed abutment and a springcarried by said carrier and arranged normally to coact therewith andwithY said latch to urge said latch into position for engagement withsaid relatively-Xed abutment in the absence of a Vcartridge on saidlcarriercthereby to hold said carrier from moving and'lock saidbreechblock in breechopen position; and a iinger on said latch arrangedto Abe engaged by a cartridge on said carrier automatically torendersaid'latch inoperative.

4. A firearm, including in combination: a receiver; a barrel carried bysaidreceiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver; means tomove said breechblock to and vfrom breech-closing position;firing-mechanism comprising a hammer having a projection thereon;cartridge-feed means including ak movable cartridge-carrier for 5elevating a cartridge into the breech of said'barrel, said carrierandbreechblock having mutuallyengageable surfaces constructed andarranged to permit said breechblock to move forwardly freely withrespect to said carrier into breech-closing position when said carrieris free to move and' to hold said breechblock immobile at. the end ofits rearward excursion when said 4carrier is-heldv from moving; and'breechblock-locking means. comprising a pivoted latch carried by saidcartridge-carrier and a spring arranged normally to urge said latch intoposition for engagement with the projection of said hammerl in theabsence of a cartridge on said carrier thereby to hold said.

8:. carrierA Afrom moving and lock said `breechblock in breech-openposition.

5. A rearm,rincluding in combination: a receiver; a barrel carried bysaid receiver; a breech-V block movably mounted in said receiver;means`Y to move -saidl breechblock to and from breechclosing position;firing-mechanism comprising apivoted hammer' having a projecting tooth,said hammer being arranged to befmoved and heldY in over-cocked positionby the rearward excursion of said breechblock cartridge-feed meansinclud'- ing a pivoted cartridge-carrier for elevating a cartridge intothe breechof said' barrel, said carrier and'breechblock` havingmutually-engageable surfaces constructed and' arranged, tol permit saidbreechblock to move forwardly freelyV with rev-- spect to saidf carrierinto Abreech-closing position whensaid carrier isvfree'to move and tohold said` breechblock immobilerat the end of its rearward excursionwhen said carrieris held from moving;` and: breechblock,-'locking'meanscomprisingV a pivoted latch oarriednbysaid: cartridge-carrier, and' aspring arrangednormally to urge said latch into' position for engagementlwith the tooth ofV said pivoted hammer when4 said hammer is held in'yits over-cocked position; and in the absence of a cartridge; onsaidfcarrier thereby to hold said carrier from moving and, lock saidYbreech'block in breech-open position.

6. A firearm, including Vin combination: a receiver; a barrel carried byAsaid'receiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver; saidbreechblock having. a cam-shoulder; automatic,

cartridge into the breechofsaid barrel, said carrier having-arearwardly-extending.arm provided with acam-follower adaptedto engagethe camshoulder of. said breechblock, said cam-follower and cam-shoulderbeing :arranged to coact sovas to permit said breechblockvto moveforwardly free-- ly into breech-closing position .whenk saidY car-rieris free to pivot upwardly but to hold said breechblock immobile at .theend of its rearward excursion when said carrier is .held from pivotingupwardly; and breechbloek-iocking means comprising a pivoted'latchcarried by said cartridge-carrier and a spring arranged' normally tourge said latch into position for engagement with the tooth of saidpivoted' hammer when said hammer is` held in its Vover-cocked'positionand in the absence of a cartridge von* said. carrier thereby to hold'said carrier from moving and lock said breechblock in breech-openVposition.

7. A nrearm, including in combination: a receiver, a barrelfcarriedlbysaid receiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver, saidbreechblock having al cam-shoulder; automatic means to move saidbreechblock to and :from breech-closing position;l firing-mechanismcomprising a pivoted hammer having va tootirsaid' hammer being arrangedto be moved and held in over-cocked'position by the rearward excursionof said breechblock; cartridge-feed means including avpivotedcartridge-carrier for elevating a cartridge into the breech of saidbarrel, said carrier having a rearwardly-extending arm provided with akcam-follower adapted to lengage ythe cam-shoulder of saidbreechblock,said cam-frol- '15` lower'. andcam-shoulder being arranged to coact soas to permit said breechblock to move forwardly freely intobreech-closing position when said carrier is free to pivot upwardly butto hold said breechblock immobile at the end of its rearward excursionwhen said carrier is held from pivoting upwardly; breechblock-lockingmeans comprising a pivoted latch carried by said cartridge-carrier and aspring arranged normally to urge said latch into position for engagementwith the tooth of said pivoted hammer when said hammer is held in itsover-cocked position and in the absence of a cartridge on said carrierthereby to hold said carrier from moving and lock said breechlock inbreech-open position; and a finger on said latch projecting upwardly insaid carrier and arranged to be engaged by a cartridge thereonautomatically to pivot said latch out of its position for engagementwith the said hammer-tooth to enable said carrier to pivot upwardly andhence permit forward excursion of said breechblock.

8. A firearm, including in combination: a receiver; a barrel carried bysaid receiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver, saidbreechblock having a cam-shoulder; automatic means to move saidbreechblock to and from breech-closing position; firing-mechanismcomprising a pivoted hammer having a tooth, said hammer being arrangedto be moved and held in over-cocked position by the rearward eX- cursionof said breechblock; cartridge-feed means including a pivotedcartridge-carrier for elevating a cartridge into the breech of saidbarrel, said carrier having a rearwardly-extending arm provided with acam-follower adapted to engage the cam-shoulder of said breechblock,said cam-follower and cam-shoulder being arranged to coact so as topermit said breechblock to move forwardly freely into breech-closingposition when said carrier is free to pivot upwardly but to hold saidbreechblock immobile at the end of its rearward excursion when saidcarrier is held from pivoting upwardly; breechblock-locking meanscomprising a pivoted latch carried by said cartridge-carrier and aspring arranged normally to urge said latch into position for engagementwith the tooth of said pivoted hammer when said hammer is held in itsover-cocked position and in the absence of a cartridge on said carrierthereby to hold said carrier from moving and lock said breechblock inbreech-open position; and a linger-piece pro- 10 jecting downwardly fromsaid latch for manually disengaging said latch from said hammer.

9. A firearm, including in combination: a receiver; a barrel carried bysaid receiver; a breechblock movably mounted in said receiver, saidbreechblock having a cam-shoulder; gasoperated means to move saidbreechblock to and from breech-closing position; firing-mechanismcomprising a pivoted hammer having a toothI said hammer being arrangedto be moved and held in over-cocked position by the rearward excursionof said breechblock; cartridge-feed means including a pivotedcartridge-carrier for elevating a cartridge into the breech of saidbarrel, said carrier having a rearwardly-extending arm provided with acam-follower arranged to engage the cam-shoulder of said breechblock,said cam-follower and cam-shoulder being arranged to coact so as topermit said breechblock to move forwardly freely into breech-closingposition when said carrier is free to pivot upwardly but to hold saidbreechblock immobile at the end of its rearward excursion when saidcarrier is held from pivoting upwardly; breech- 1 block-locking meanscomprising a pivoted latch carried by said cartridge-carrier and aspring arranged normally to urge said latch into position for engagementwith the tooth of said pivoted hammer when said hammer is held in itsover-cocked position and in the absence of a cartridge on said carrierthereby to hold said carrier from moving and lock said breechblock inbreech-open position; a nger on said latch projecting upwardly in saidcarrier and arranged to be engaged by a cartridge thereon automaticallyto pivot said latch out of its position for engagement with the saidhammer-tooth to enable said carrier to pivot upwardly and hence permitforward excursion of said breechblock; and a finger-piece projectingdownwardly from said latch for manually disengaging said latch from saidhammer.

HARRY H. SEFRIED, II.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

